IT IS becoming increasingly obvious that Gordon Brown's budget was a stealth tax budget. The 10p rate will be clawed back by scrapping the 20p band, ending Miras and abolishing the married couples allowance.

Then there are the stealth taxes on mortgages, marriages, company cars, pensions, savings, house purchases and businesses. The UK now has the most expensive petrol in the world.

All this from a government that said prior to the election that it had "no plans to increase tax at all."

It is the average person who will bear the brunt of the budget long after the headlines have been forgotten.

Businesses too will also count the cost.

Paul Brierley

Aire Drive, Bradshaw

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